Virtually live performances are getting livelier (and bigger), with some great acts and multi-artist concerts to watch this month.
While many cities across the country are increasingly opening up, the state of entertainment remains bifurcated. Socially distanced indoor shows have returned to live-music venues like City Winery in New York, and Austin’s Nutty Brown Amphitheater, while NY PopsUp is offering a series of indoor and outdoor performances at locations across New York State, leading up to the eventual reopening of Broadway. (As part of the venture, Nathan Lane and Savion Glover were the first artists to grace a Broadway stage since last March, while Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and Hugh Jackman are scheduled for future events.)
But until vaccination numbers increase, livestreamed shows will continue. And as the traditional concert seasons near, the scale increases. For example, Glastonbury Festival (which will not occur in person until 2022) is holding a concert featuring customary top-tier artists. But while signs of a recovery might be in the air in some places, Covid remains very much top of mind. Selena Gomez will host a Global Citizen concert in an effort to encourage vaccination, while celebrated indie artists will come together to honor the songwriter Adam Schlesinger, who died of Covid-19 in 2020. So kick back and safely enjoy tuning into some of these multigenre continent-spanning shows.
‘Adam Schlesinger: A Musical Celebration’
The music, film and TV communities all mourned the loss of Adam Schlesinger, a founding member of Fountains of Wayne and an Emmy and Grammy winner who wrote songs for film like “Shallow Hal” and “That Thing You Do!” Artists including Courtney Love, Sean Ono Lennon, Michelle Branch and Micky Dolenz will perform his songs at a memorial concert that will benefit MusiCares, the nonprofit organization for musicians in need, and the venue Bowery Electric. May 5, 8 p.m. E.S.T., tickets are $20; rollinglivestudios.com/pages/box-office
Van Morrison
The day after the release of his latest album, “Latest Record Project: Number 1,” the Northern Irish artist will perform songs from it, along with some best-known hits, in what will be his first virtual concert. Morrison has made waves in recent months with his anti-lockdown stance, which included a threat to sue the Northern Ireland Department of Health, and recently released three songs addressing the shutdown, including “No More Lockdown.” None of the three will appear on the new album. May 8, 3 p.m. E.S.T., tickets start at $14.99; nugs.net
‘VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World’
The anti-poverty organization Global Citizen is embarking on a very ambitious mission with their Vax Live concert to both endorse vaccination against Covid and advocate for global access to doses. The show, which is to be taped at Southern California’s SoFi stadium on Sunday, will be hosted by Selena Gomez with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle serving as campaign chairs. President Biden will also appear, while Jennifer Lopez and the Foo Fighters will be among the acts performing. May 8, 8 p.m. E.S.T.; airing on ABC, CBS, Fox and YouTube
Kehlani
Fans of Kehlani can tune in to see the R&B and pop artist performing her 2020 album “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t.” As a result of the pandemic, this will be her first time presenting the album in full, as well as her first livestreamed show. May 10, 9 p.m. E.S.T., tickets start at $20; nocapshows.com/artist?name=kehlani
‘Glastonbury Festival Presents Live at Worthy Farm’
England’s famed Glastonbury, a jewel in the crown of summer music festivals, will be on hiatus this year, just as it was in 2020. As a consolation, this livestreamed event, held at the festival’s traditional home in Somerset, will include A-list performances from the likes of Coldplay, HAIM and Jorja Smith (and no mud). Hopefully, this virtual sampling can hold festival-lovers over until the show goes on in June 2022.
May 22, 7 p.m. E.S.T., tickets start at $27.50; glastonburylivestream.seetickets.com
